1-Year-Old Passes Away After Mother Forgets Him In Backseat Of Hot Car In Parking Lot While She Was Inside Working 9-5

Sep 06, 2019

A foster mother is being investigated after police say she left a 1-year-old in the backseat of her car while she went to work. The boy, who was just a year old, was found dead after the mother returned to her car. Temperatures had been in the mid-80s that particular day.

Police are investigating this tragic story that happened in Pineville, North Carolina. The mother called emergency services around 5 p.m. after she realized that the child had been left in her car all day after she went to work. The mother in question worked at McMullen Creek Shopping Center according to WSOC News. 

The child was taken to the local hospital. However, Pineville Officer Lt. Corey Copley told Fox 46 News, "Every life-saving measure was attempted but unfortunately failed." 

Local witnesses, along with family members, are being interviewed about the incident. An autopsy is also being performed on the boy to prove the actual cause of death.

In a statement made to the Charlotte Observer, the 12-month-old is in the custody of the medical examiner at this time. The police stated, “We have many questions and realistically we won’t have all the answers right away.”

Pineville Police reported that there have yet to be criminal charges pressed against the woman, who was the foster mother of the young child. She has been cooperative with the police during the ongoing case. The police force has extended their Mobile Crisis unit to her and the family during this time.

Furthermore Lt. Copley said to Fox 46 News, "We are not going to rush to judgment right now, we are just going to keep all options open and see where this investigation leads," Lt. Copley said. 

Unfortunately, this is the second child in North Carolina to die while in a hot car this year. Since 1998, a total of 836 children have perished from what is known as Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke according to noheatstroke.org. Majority of cases involved kids aged three or younger.

Lt. Copley also urged the public to take measures to ensure you do not forget children in the car as he said to Fox 46 News.

“I know we all have busy lives, we are all doing something. Do something to remind you. Take a shoe off and throw it in the back seat. Anything to remind yourself that you have precious cargo on board.” 

Do you have any thoughts on this tragic story? Drop them below, and then pass this on to others to remind them not to leave a child alone in a vehicle.